Tuesday: Afternoon Prayer

ABOUT TODAY

In the church calendar the long stretch of time between Pentecost and the beginning of Advent is known as ‘Ordinary Time.’ Inasmuch as we have celebrated to birth, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus and the subsequent descent of the Holy Spirit; so this time is often seen as representative of the long ‘Church Age’ when the gospel is preached to all creation.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Reader:
God, come to my assistance.All:Lord, make haste to help me.

Reader:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. All:As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

AFTERNOON PSALM

Psalm 116

Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death

I love the Lord, because He has heardMy voice and my supplications.Because He has inclined His ear to me,Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.

The pains of death surrounded me,And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me;I found trouble and sorrow.Then I called upon the name of the Lord:“O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!”

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;Yes, our God is merciful.The Lord preserves the simple;I was brought low, and He saved me.Return to your rest, O my soul,For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

For You have delivered my soul from death,My eyes from tears,And my feet from falling.I will walk before the LordIn the land of the living.I believed, therefore I spoke,“I am greatly afflicted.”I said in my haste,“All men are liars.”

What shall I render to the LordFor all His benefits toward me?I will take up the cup of salvation,And call upon the name of the Lord.I will pay my vows to the LordNow in the presence of all His people.

Precious in the sight of the LordIs the death of His saints.

O Lord, truly I am Your servant;I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant;You have loosed my bonds.I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,And will call upon the name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows to the LordNow in the presence of all His people,In the courts of the Lord’s house,In the midst of you, O Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!

All:Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

WORSHIP (Optional)

All:
(A short time of worship and thanksgiving, led or spontaneous. Alternatively a devotional song may be played and listened to.)

OLD TESTAMENT READING

Ezekiel 1:15-28

Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them.As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel.When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went.And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all round.And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose.Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads.And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one towards another. And each creature had two wings covering its body.And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings.And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings.

And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance.And upwards from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all round. And downwards from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him.Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all round.

Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Reader:The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.

Pause for Reflection……

PRAYER

(Take a moment to bring to God any issues that have arisen during the morning. You may like to end with the following prayer…)

Reader:Lord Jesus, you worked with your hands as a carpenter.
May we who labour upon the earth never cease to give you praise,
And know your loving presence with us.
We ask this for your glory. Amen

(If these prayers are taking place before food, you may like to say the Grace here also.)

GRACE (Optional)

Lord God, we thank you for your gift to us of this food;
Produce of earth, sky, many living beings, and much hard work.

May we eat with prayerfulness, gratitude and moderation;
With renewed minds and spirit-controlled appetites.

May we eat with compassion for those who hunger today,
And in such a way that reduces the suffering of all creatures;
Healing and preserving our precious planet.

Use this food to strengthen our bodies, revive our spirits,
Nurture our family and nourish our resolve;
That we may continue to serve all that lives with all our life. Amen